The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly examining options to secure long-term control over the Chagos Islands, including a proposal that could see Washington acquire the territory after sovereignty is transferred from Britain to Mauritius.
According to a report by The Telegraph, U.S. officials have prepared a range of alternatives to a British-backed agreement under which the United Kingdom would relinquish sovereignty over the Chagos Islands while retaining access to the joint UK-U.S. military base on Diego Garcia through a lease arrangement.
The discussions come as concerns grow within Washington over the future of the strategically located base, which plays a key role in U.S. military operations across the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region.
Concerns over Diego Garcia’s future
The White House and British officials have reportedly been holding regular talks regarding the long-term status of Diego Garcia, a facility regarded by both countries as one of their most important overseas military assets.
Sources cited by The Telegraph said one option under consideration would involve the United States seeking to take ownership of the islands following the completion of the proposed transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius.
While the proposal is not said to be the preferred course of action, it has reportedly been discussed at senior levels within the Trump administration, including with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The issue has gained renewed attention amid escalating geopolitical tensions and growing concerns in Washington over China’s expanding naval presence and the strategic importance of military infrastructure across the Indian Ocean.
Diego Garcia has been used to support long-range military operations and occupies a position that gives the United States and Britain access to critical maritime routes stretching from the Middle East to Asia.
Trump’s opposition to UK-Mauritius agreement
Britain had planned to transfer sovereignty over the islands to Mauritius while paying billions of pounds to lease back Diego Garcia for continued military use.
However, the agreement requires U.S. approval because of the joint nature of the military facility.
The Telegraph reported that Trump initially appeared open to the arrangement before later reversing his position and criticizing the deal.
The report linked the shift to disagreements between Washington and London regarding the use of Diego Garcia during the opening phase of the recent war with Iran.
In public remarks earlier this year, Trump described the proposed transfer as an act of weakness and “great stupidity”, arguing that Starmer was “losing control of this important island.”
In an interview for The Telegraph on March 2, Trump said he was “very disappointed” with the British prime minister over restrictions related to military operations involving Iran.
Strategic and legal dispute
Mauritius has for years challenged British control of the Chagos Islands and has received support from international legal bodies that have questioned the legality of Britain’s continued administration of the territory.
Supporters of maintaining British and American control argue that Diego Garcia hosts highly sensitive military capabilities that would be difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Ben Judah, a former advisor to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, told The Telegraph:,
This airbase… has super secret, super sensitive facilities there which are so important to what Britain is able to do in the world.
The moment you understand what it is, you come into the British deep state’s logic, which is that we must retain access to this thing at all costs. We would never be able to replicate if we had to do it all by ourselves.
Despite reports of U.S. interest in alternative arrangements, British officials have publicly maintained that they remain committed to the agreement negotiated with Mauritius.
Hamish Falconer, Britain’s minister for the Middle East and North Africa, said in May that there was no realistic prospect of Washington purchasing the territory and insisted the government remained committed to the existing deal.
A U.S. official quoted by The Telegraph said,
We remain in regular discussions with our British allies as we work together to preserve the viability of Diego Garcia as a regional security platform.
The reported discussions reflect broader debates within Washington over the future of strategic military positions as competition with China intensifies and conflicts across the Middle East continue to reshape security calculations.